Private Tuk Tuk Sintra

Sintra Historic Centre

In the historic center of the romantic village of Sintra, Portugal, there remain many buildings and vestiges of various eras and cultural movements. It circumscribes a comprehensive area of diverse heritage, including palaces, castles, farms and parks with different classifications. From municipal heritage to world heritage, duly classified by UNESCO.

Moorish Fountain

This beautiful fountain is located on the main road between the train station and the Sintra National Palace, only five minutes walk away from the palace. It was built in 1922 by the master sculptor of Sintra, José da Fonseca.

The Moorish Fountain is built on the Islamic architecture (Arabic inspiration). Due to the Islamic influence and style, this mountain was named ‘the Moorish Fountain’. Azulejos (comes from Arabic word zellige) are famous to decorate the historical monuments in Portugal and this fountain was no exception.

Town Hall

Sabuga Fountain

These springs still provide drinking water and you can often see some people filling bottles from them.

Sintra Nacional Palace

The National Palace of Sintra, also known as Palácio da Vila, was one of the palaces used by the Portuguese Royal Family practically until the end of the Monarchy in 1910.

Of urban implantation, its construction began in the fifteenth century, with an unknown author's trait. It features features medieval, Gothic, Manueline, Renaissance and romantic architecture. It is considered an example of organic architecture, of apparently separate body set, but which are part of a whole articulated with each other, through courtyards, stairs, corridors and galleries. It has the largest set of Mudejar tiles in the country.

It is dominated by two large semi-sized chimneys that crown the kitchen and constitute the "ex-libris" of Sintra.

The Biester Palace

Located in the heart of Sintra, Biester Palace opened to the public in 2022, after some restoration works.

The different spaces of this palace offers a privileged view to Moorish Castle and a privileged location, in few minutes from the lower entrance where you can find the mystical Quinta da Regaleira.

More than a historical monument, the Biester Palace is a mysterious adventure in a fascinating and (yet) underexplored cultural labyrinth.

Sintra Forest

The Sintra hill, also known as Monte da Lua, is a hill in the municipalities of Sintra in Portugal. It is located at the western end of the European continent. It is measured about 10 kilometres from east to west and approximately 5 km wide, with its highest peak at an altitude of 529 metres in cruz alta, reaching topographic prominence of 336 meters and the isolation of 51.37 km. It is integrated in the Natural Park of Sintra-Cascais. It has a very rich fauna, being an example of it, the fox, the gineta, the mole, the salamander, the peregrine falcon, the viper and several species of stoeted reptiles. Its climate is temperate with many oceanic influences, thus presenting a higher rainfall compared to the rest of the greater Lisbon area. This also results in a unique vegetation. About nine hundred species of flora are autochthonous and 10% are endemic.

Moorish Castle

The Moorish Castle is a privileged viewpoint to admire the view extending from Sintra to the ocean. Winding across two ridges on the Sintra Mountains, the castle dates back to the early days of Moorish occupation in the Iberian peninsula, in the 8th century.

Pena Palace

The National Palace of Pena is one of the best expressions of 19th century Romanticism in the world, standing on a craggy outcrop, the second highest point on the Sintra Mountains (exceeded only by Cruz Alta [High Cross] at 528 m above sea level).

The Palace is located in the eastern side of Pena Park, and the steep access ramp built by the Baron of Eschwege can be reached by crossing the Park. The Palace itself has two wings: the former Manueline convent of the Order of St. Jerome, and the wing built in the nineteenth century by King Fernando II. These wings are surrounded by a third architectural structure, which conjures up imaginary patrol paths, merlons and battlements, watch-towers and an access tunnel to a draw bridge.

On 7 July 2007, it was elected one of the seven wonders de Portugal, and is the first romantic palace in Europe, predating the charismatic Schloss Neuschwanstein in Bavaria by approximately 30 years.
The Palace and Park were conceived and implemented as a whole. From the Palace, the visitor can look out over the forest cover spanning the over 200 hectares that make up Pena Park.

This park has beautiful routes and walks, and countless garden constructions. Bridges and caves, garden benches, pergolas and fountains. Small dwellings that housed guards and other servants. Greenhouses and nurseries with camellias, rhododendra and very rare and unusual roses. Sculptures, such as the warrior that can be seen from the Palace, as if on guard. 

The lakes near the exit to the Moorish Castle are equally picturesque and pleasant, surrounded by a great corridor of arboreal ferns.

Today, Pena Park is the European park with the richest and most unusual collection of tree species, many of which no longer exist in many of their countries and continents of origin.

Regaleira Estate

The Regaleira Palace is the largest building in and common name given to Quinta da Regaleira. Also known as "Palace of the Monteiro Millionaire", a reference to the surname of its former owner, António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro.

The house is located on the hillside, a short distance from Sintra’s Historic Centre, and classified as Property in the Public Interest since 2002.

With the aid of Italian architect Luigi Manini, Carvalho Monteiro transformed the 4 hectare estate into a palace surrounded by lush gardens, lakes, caves, and enigmatic constructions, places that hide alchemical meanings such as those evoked by Freemasonry, the Templars, and the Rose-cross. He shapes the space with mixed lines, evoking Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Manueline architecture. 

Quinta da Regaleira must be experienced. It is not enough to hear about its memory, landscape and mysteries. You must get to know the estate, contemplate the scenery among the gardens and constructions, admire the Palace, a true philosophical mansion of alchemical inspiration, and walk through the exotic park and feel its spirit.

Seteais Palace

Much more than a luxury hotel in Sintra, Tivoli Palacio de Seteais is a romantic palace with period architecture that will take you back to the elegance and atmosphere of the XVIII century. The rooms are decorated with ornate furnishings while the ballrooms are adorned with stunning tapestries and frescos of rare beauty, making this boutique hotel in Sintra - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - a unique setting to turn any event or stay into an unforgettable experience.

Monserrate Palace

The palace was designed by architects Thomas James Knowles (father and son) and built in 1858, by order of Sir Francis Cook, Viscount of Monserrate. The construction of the gardens exploited the Mountain's microclimate to create a magnificent park, where over 3 000 exotic species can still be seen today.

The palace was the summer residence of the Cook family, and was built on the ruins of the neo-Gothic mansion built by the English merchant Gerard de Visme, the man behind the first Montserrat palace. William Beckford rented the property in 1793, carried out work on the palace, and began creating a landscaped garden. 

It is a striking example of Portuguese Romanticism, along with other palaces in the region, such as Pena Palace. It has been classified as a Monument of Public Interest since 1978.

In 1809, the Monserrate Palace was visited by Lord Byron, the anglo-Scottish poet and leading figure of the Romantic Movement.  The sublime aspect of the property was a source of inspiration to the poet in Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, making this visit a must for foreign travellers, but especially for English travellers, who have described it in numerous travel accounts and captured it in engravings.

Monserrate Palace also appears briefly in the 1996 TV mini-series "Gulliver's Travels''.

Among trees from the four corners of the world, waterfalls and lakes, walks through Monserrate Park are steeped in Romanticism.

Azenhas do Mar

A real illustrated postcard, Azenhas do Mar takes us by surprise with its geographical location, the houses cascading down the cliff slope to the sea, bathed in an idyllic white light.

It is one of bathers’ most sought-after beaches, with an ocean swimming pool that delights visitors.

There is no sand above 30 meters, and it may disappear completely during high tides. Over the last decades, the former fishing village has become a summer retreat and a quiet inspiration for many painters such as Júlio Pomar, Emílio da Paula Campos or Milly Possoz.

Cabo da Roca

Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point of the European continent, located at the far end of the Sintra Mountains, and is undoubtedly one of the most emblematic places in Portugal.

With a 165 m tall lighthouse, dating from 1722, shrouded in fog, or bathed in splendid sun light, this inspiring setting has been a member of the "Sri Chinmoy Peace Blossoms" programme, dedicated to peace, since 1989.

Cascais

Cascais (pronounced kush-kyesh) is the “Portuguese Riviera.” A former fishing village, it became a cosmopolitan resort when the Portuguese king made it his summer retreat in the late 1800s. The nobility soon followed him, and, as a result, elegant 19th-century mansions now line the cobbled pedestrian streets of the historic center and the seafront.

During World War II, when Portugal remained neutral, European monarchs seeked exile on the Lisbon coast, settling in Cascais and neighboring Estoril, further making the area rich and glamorous. Today, it’s a place for everyone, with the people of Lisbon and surroundings heading in its direction whenever they want some beach lounging, a dip in the cooling Atlantic waters, a rich seafood meal, or simply a stroll by the sea. They’re joined by the many tourists who visit Lisbon, who also take some time to enjoy a sunny day in its beautiful coast. While it’s most often a day trip, many also make it their base for several days, as part of an extended summer vacation.

Cascais is also a destination for surfers and windsurfers, who spend their days at the beaches of Carcavelos and Guincho (which has hosted World Surfing Championships), but this isn’t just a town of sand, sea, and surf, it’s also home to a growing number of cultural attractions, which, together with world-class hotels, a mild climate and the stunning beaches, create the perfect holiday destination.

Sintra Nacional Palace

The National Palace of Sintra, also known as Palácio da Vila, was one of the palaces used by the Portuguese Royal Family practically until the end of the Monarchy in 1910.

Of urban implantation, its construction began in the fifteenth century, with an unknown author's trait. It features features medieval, Gothic, Manueline, Renaissance and romantic architecture. It is considered an example of organic architecture, of apparently separate body set, but which are part of a whole articulated with each other, through courtyards, stairs, corridors and galleries. It has the largest set of Mudejar tiles in the country.

It is dominated by two large semi-sized chimneys that crown the kitchen and constitute the "ex-libris" of Sintra.